Speedskater Jordan Stolz Wins Gold in 1000m at 2026 Winter Olympics

The 21-year-old American phenom is a superstar in Europe, but still relatively unknown in his home country.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Jordan Stolz, a 21-year-old American speedskater, won gold in the men's 1000m event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. Stolz, who is a superstar in speedskating hotspots like the Netherlands, Norway, and Germany, is still relatively unknown in his home country of the United States, even in his home state of Wisconsin. His gold medal performance, where he destroyed the Olympic record by nearly a second, could help raise his profile and that of the sport in America.

Why it matters

Stolz's Olympic gold medal victory is a major milestone that could significantly boost his profile and popularity in the United States. As a dominant force in international speedskating who remains relatively unknown in his home country, this win provides him a chance to elevate both his own stature and the notoriety of his sport among American audiences.

The details

Stolz, who learned to skate on his family's backyard pond in Kewaskum, Wisconsin, overwhelmed a world-class field in the men's 1,000 meters to win his first Olympic gold medal with a time of 1:06.28, nearly a second faster than the previous Olympic record. He is also a clear favorite to win gold in the men's 1,500 on February 19, though the 500m and mass start events pose stiffer challenges.

  • Stolz won gold in the men's 1,000 meters on February 11, 2026.
  • The men's 1,500 meters event is scheduled for February 19, 2026.

The players

Jordan Stolz

A 21-year-old American speedskater who is a dominant force in international competition, but remains relatively unknown in the United States.

Dirk Stolz

Jordan Stolz's father, who has noted the extreme fame and recognition his son enjoys in speedskating hotspots in Europe, in contrast to his relative anonymity in the U.S.

Jane Stolz

Jordan Stolz's mother, who has experienced the contrast between her son's fame overseas and relative obscurity in his home country, including instances where ticket scanners initially did not recognize her at competitions.

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What they’re saying

“It's crazy over there. Anywhere we go, everybody knows him.”

— Dirk Stolz, Jordan Stolz's father

“By the end of the week, I didn't have to worry about showing tickets anymore. They all knew who we were.”

— Jane Stolz, Jordan Stolz's mother

What’s next

If Stolz can win additional medals over the next 10 days, it could significantly boost his profile and the popularity of speedskating in the United States.

The takeaway

Jordan Stolz's Olympic gold medal victory in the 1000m event highlights the stark contrast between his immense popularity and fame in Europe's speedskating hotbeds versus his relative obscurity in his home country of the United States. This win provides him a chance to elevate his own profile and that of his sport among American audiences.